Chronic pain at 4 months in hospitalized trauma patients: incidence and life interference.

Many studies report on the incidence of chronic pain. However, deficiencies exist in prior research making it difficult to generalize results to trauma patients. This study evaluated the incidence of chronic pain in trauma patients at 4 months posttrauma and effect chronic pain has on life interference. The incidence of chronic pain was present in 79.2% of trauma patients 4 months posttrauma and a strong positive correlation (n = 80, r = 0.79, P < 0.001) existed between chronic pain severity and the effect on life interference. Chronic pain is prevalent and causes significant life interference in traumatically injured patients.